#7 Challenging norms in documentary cinema and Using limitations as a solution - In conversation with Adriana Barbosa

10/06/20 • 43 min

Adriana is a Mexican-Brazilian filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Her work focuses on non-fiction cinema, experimental and hybrid narratives, addressing themes like immigration, colonization, LGBTQ+ rights, latino communities and faith.

She recently moved from São Paulo, Brazil, where she was part of the film collective “Cinefusão'' and where she started her own production company "en caliente films”, in 2014. She produced the narrative feature films Young and Miserable and a film of cinema directed by Thiago B. Mendonça. She directed Ferroada (Bite), a short film about the Brazilian marginal writer/undertaker named Tico. In 2018 she co-directed along with Thiago Zanato La Flaca (The Bony Lady), a short film about a Mexican transgender woman and leader of the Santa Muerte cult in Queens, NY. The film was highly acclaimed and entered over 100 film festivals around the world. Among them: 43th Frameline, 37th Outfest, 21th Guanajuato International Film Festival, 35th Kasseler Dokfest, 40th Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine-latinoamericano de la Habana, 25th Encounters Film Festival, 28th Message to man.

Also in 2018, she directed with Bruno Mello Castanho the feature documentary Madrigal For a Living Poet in Brazil. She also directs with Fernanda Pessoa the short film Same/Different/Both/Neither, a video correspondence between the filmmakers living in Los Angeles (USA) and São Paulo (Brazil), aiming for a premiere in 2021.

She is currently producing the feature documentary Esu and the Universe, a co-production between Brazil and Nigeria, and continues her research on a documentary about Mexican traditions related to death.

In today’s episode, we talk about her short film La Flaca, telling stories about under-represented groups, challenging norms in documentary cinema, and using limitations creatively.

See Adriana’s work:

Website: https://chicabarbosa.com/adriana

Connect with Adriana:

Instagram @chica_barbosa

Watch this episode here: https://bit.ly/2yy0lp7

Subscribe to the newsletter for more content: https://bit.ly/3k4NyvZ

www.filmandimpact.com

In today’s episode, we talk about her short film La Flaca, telling stories about under-represented groups, challenging norms in documentary cinema, and using limitations creatively.

See Adriana’s work:

Website: https://chicabarbosa.com/adriana

Connect with Adriana:

Instagram @chica_barbosa

Watch this episode here: https://bit.ly/2yy0lp7

Subscribe to the newsletter for more content: https://bit.ly/3k4NyvZ

www.filmandimpact.com

Previous Episode

#6 Making an award-winning documentary & dealing with film censorship - In conversation with Sam Soko

Sam Soko is a director and producer based in Nairobi Kenya. His work on sociopolitical projects in music and film has allowed him to connect and work with artists around the world. He is co-founder of LBx Africa, a Kenyan production company that produced the 2018 Academy Award–nominated short fiction film Watu Wote.

The film Softie is his first feature documentary project and focuses on activism in Kenya. Working on this film strengthened his belief to continue to expose elements of humanity through narratives that dare to defy the status quo and indeed ourselves.

Softie made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival 2020 where it won the Special Jury Award for editing. It was the Opening night film at Hot Docs and took Best documentary at the Durban International Film Festival in September 2020.

In today’s episode we talk about the unexpected journey of making his award-winning documentary Softie, dealing with film censorship in a politically tense climate, the renaissance of documentary in East Africa, and how collaborations enrichen the experience of making a film and telling a story.

See Soko’s work:

https://www.lbxafrica.com/

https://www.softiethefilm.com/

Connect with Soko:

Instagram @soko_sam
Facebook @Soko Sam

Watch the episode here: http://bit.ly/sunyoutube

Subscribe to the newsletter for more content: https://bit.ly/3k4NyvZ

Next Episode

#8 - Creating a successful film festival and promoting sustainability in the Caribbean with Carver Bacchus

Today I welcome Carver Bacchus, a fellow Caribbean filmmaker and festival organizer to Film & Impact! Carver has over fifteen years’ experience in the areas of Communication and Film Production. He has worked as a communications consultant since 2008 and has directed and produced documentaries, animations and corporate videos for a wide range of clients including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme, The German Embassy (Port of Spain), The University of the West Indies and the Institute of Marine Affairs (Trinidad and Tobago).

Carver is the Founder and Managing Director of Sustain T&T, a not-for-profit focussed on environmental and economic sustainability education. He is also the Founder and Festival Director of Green Screen the Environmental Film Festival, the only environmental and sustainability themed film festival in the English-speaking Caribbean.

Carver served on the Board of Directors of the Asa Wright Nature Centre (Trinidad) from 2012 to 2015.

He is also a member of the NextGen Board, constituted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) Trinidad and Tobago office in 2018. A first of its kind for the IADB, this group of cross-sectoral change-makers was assembled to take action on the sustainable development agenda in Trinidad and Tobago. NextGen focuses on creating solutions through partnerships to address some of the most pressing challenges T&T faces - Crime, Transportation, Mental Health and Environmental concerns.

Carver holds a BSc in Communications and other specialist training including a Diploma in Motion Picture Directing and a Certificate in Integrated Marketing Communication for Behavioral Impact in Health and Social Development (COMBI).

In today’s episode, we talk about creating and running a successful film festival in Trinidad, changing mindsets and shifting towards a future of sustainability in the Caribbean, “doing more” and bringing more of “us” to the big screen.

Visit the Green Screen Film Festival:

Website: https://www.greenscreenfest.com/

Connect with Carver: